The importance of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid is also called L- ascorbic acid, a kind of water-soluble vitamins. It plays a regulatory role in the redox metabolic reactions. the lack of it can cause scurvy. Normally, the vast majority of vitamin C in the body  metabolic decompose into oxalic acid or ascorbic acid -2- sulfuric acid combined with sulfuric acid and urine excretion, the other part can be directly discharged from the urine in vitro.

Vitamin C is a very delicate water soluble vitamin. Its nature is very unstable and easy to be oxidized and destroyed. Vc not only afraid of light, the heat, alkali, but also afraid of the bronze iron, therefore, the processing of food containing Vc should avoid high temperature. Besides, processing containers also avoid that kind of container. In the acidic environment, Vc is more stable. So acidic environment can be selected for the food processing.

When in the calculation of vitamin content in food, people usually only pay attention to the amount of raw materials before food processing or the amount added to fortified foods. But its amount usually decreases in food processing and storage. This can not meet the amount of vitamin intake, it also causes economic losses. Various complex factors such as light, heat, acid, alkali, oxygen and so on can cause the loss of vitamin.

Why vitamin C is often used as a food additive?

Vitamin C plays an important role in the formation of collagen. Collagen is a kind of important material to human tissue cells, development and repair of gums, bones and blood vessels. It helps to absorb iron and often recommended for the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) substances. As to smokers and older people, they need more vitamin C. For a cigarette can destroy 25 to 100mg of vitamin C.

Overdose of vitamin C makes the disease resistance of white blood cells decreased obviously. Taking an overdose of vitamin C can lead to the formation of oxalic acid and uric acid stones. Excessive intake will cause some uncomfortable side effects, such as diarrhea, urine, skin rash, etc. But cancer patients receiving radiotherapy or chemotherapy should not take vitamin C.

Vitamin C can be used in fermented flour products, beer, carbonated drinks, tea drinks, juice drinks, milk drinks, milk candy, jelly, canned fruit, broth, children's products, meat products, grain baking products and so on. The uses of vitamin C are nutritional supplements, antioxidants and color protection agent. It can enhance the resistance to infectious diseases, as well as prevent scurvy, anemia, loss of appetite, alveolar pyorrhea, etc. If you have interest to okchem.com, please click here for more, thanks!